Heading for Camp Again: Crystal Lake Premiere Review

Originally published October 16, 2026. This article reviews the premiere of Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel TV series. Check out our Spooktacular event page for even more spooky news and fun!

It’s not quite Friday yet but we’re getting there. Now, sing along with us.

“The time has come

So let out a cheer

We’re heading for the camp again

Because summer is here…”

Summer camp is supposed to be full of fun yet we all know the reputation of Camp Crystal Lake. In this prequel series to Friday the 13th, Crystal Lake invites us to enroll at camp all over again. Think you know Pam and Jason’s story? So far, it seems like we’ve only skimmed the surface. Here’s your review of the first two episodes of Crystal Lake, now streaming on Peacock.

Mother + Son Machete

“I don’t wanna heal. I wanna find my son.” – Pamela Voorhees

• Friday the 13th Fan Fact: Pamela Voorhees is played by Linda Cardellini, who has also played Laura Barton and Lylla in the MCU, Velma from Scooby-Doo, and Elizabeth Bates in DC’s Creature Commandos

Maybe the scariest thing about Crystal Lake is the way it promises to humanize two of the most notorious slashers in all of horror cinema. Pamela Voorhees is just like us — she goes to her job, she hangs at the bowling alley, she attends weird self-help seminars, and she feeds men to bears. Okay so maybe that last one isn’t so universal.

However, Pam’s reaction to losing her son is, for the most part, relatable. Loss can create a monster out of anyone. Linda Cardellini strikes that elusive balance between grieving vulnerability and seething rage. The juxtaposition of a mother in mourning and a town moving on from unspeakable tragedy is perfectly uncomfortable to watch.

Speaking of, it’s extremely unsettling to see Jason as a child. But that’s not in any way because of his deformity. What’s so uncanny is that he’s speaking and acting like a child, full of innocence and fear and even love. It’s a far cry from the hockey-masked killer of the films. Pam says she and Jason are “joined at the heart” but there’s only so much a heart can take. Eventually, they’ll both turn into the slashers we know so well.

Midnight Picnic

“There are worse things in these woods than bears.” – Ralph

• Friday the 13th Fan Fact: Series creator Brad Kane was also showrunner of IT: Welcome to Derry

All eight of the episode titles are allusions to the Friday the 13th film franchise, from famous quotes to specific movie titles. And so far, the series is full of other Easter eggs for fans of the original films. Certain characters are getting more backstory, like Crazy Ralph, Officer Dorf, and camp counselors Claudette and Barry. The zooming in shot of Pam’s screaming mouth in episode 1 also echoes the beginning of Friday the 13th, when the camera zooms in to Claudette’s screaming mouth. Then, episode 2 opens with an homage to the original film’s shock ending in the canoe, and even the title intro uses a similar bold, bloody font.

Through a period-accurate soundtrack and vibrant wardrobe, Crystal Lake nails that retro aesthetic and transports the viewer back to 1980. However, there are some differences that establish this story as its own entity. Crystal Lake switches Jason’s death to just before 1980, whereas Friday the 13th placed it near 1958. There are also moments of surrealism, such as Pam’s midnight encounter with a bear under a dazzling fireworks display.

Still, there is plenty of grisly gore scattered throughout the episodes and the cliffhangers are classic horror fare. It’s truly the small details that make Crystal Lake come alive, like when Jason and his mom unpack a camping kit that features a machete and probably a sleeping bag — tools of the trade for those in the know.

Dropping the Hockey Mask

“Some of us are meant to wear masks.” – Pam

• Friday the 13th Fan Fact: Crystal Lake is a fictional town in New Jersey and the TV series used some of the same filming locations as the original 1980 film.

As with any prequel series from an established franchise, the greatest mystery is how we’ll reach the starting point of the original. The series often feels very similar to the Psycho prequel series Bates Motel, which is highly complimentary. Crystal Lake is also adding new lore to Pam and Jason’s history before Camp Crystal Lake, with what feels like elements of Stranger Things experimentation and government-level intrigue. We’ve gotten flashbacks of a long hallway with a door labeled ARGONAUT, a reference to the classic myth. Plus, there’s that last name drop — why was Pam known as Pamela Wittering in the past?

We’ve already seen Pam kill. Her penchant for violence seems like an inherent trait. But the Crystal Lake woods whisper with another shadowy figure. Is someone else seeking revenge for Jason or is it already Jason himself?

When in doubt, turn to Crazy Ralph for some words of wisdom: “Two lungs full of lake will sink you to the silt.” If only everybody had listened to him sooner. Season 2 of Crystal Lake is not confirmed yet but showrunner Brad Kane has ideas, according to Deadline.

What are your thoughts and theories on Crystal Lake? Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or at side.show/geekgroup. Plus, check out Sideshow’s Spooktacular page for frightfully festive contests, giveaways, reveals, and more!

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